The Center for Consumer Freedom, as the hardworking staff has previously noted, is a front group for the restaurant, fast-food, and soft-drink industries orchestrated by superflack Rick Berman, who was profiled by 60 Minutes as Dr. Evil and who runs at least 23 other front groups.

Another diner, Monica Dauphine, 44, who was sharing a 32-ounce Sprite, gave the mayor credit for his good intentions, but said: “You can’t force it. It’s like dictatorship. I’m sorry, but if you want to be obese, you want to be obese.”